The Supreme Court has directed the constitution of district election security committees and monitoring committees. The district police officer (DPO) would be responsible for security at all polling stations.
The district returning officer will coordinate between the security committees. Each committee will comprise the DCO or political agent, the DPO or commandant in FATA and the district election commissioner.
The committee would look after matters pertaining to law and order in the district or agency during the course of the elections. The DPO will prepare a contingency plan to provide security at all polling stations. This plan will be presented to the committee for approval before its implementation. Copies of the approved plan will be circulated among the provincial and district election commissioners and all returning officers in the district or agency.
The monitoring committees will check whether the code of conduct issued by the election commission for candidates is being complied with. Members will have video cameras to collect evidence of excessive campaign expenditure as well as other violations of the code of conduct by candidates or their parties. They will report to the provincial election commissioner on a daily basis. The local administration will provide security to each team.
Ahmedpur East Civil Judge, 1st Class, Khursheed Ahmed Anjum and the Ahmedpur East TMO will monitor the constituencies NA-183 and PP-267-268. Civil Judge, Class-III, Chaudhry Tariq Ali Dhawla and the Sadder TMO will monitor NA-184 and PP-269 and 270. Civil Judge, 1st Class, Naveed Bari and Satellite Town Wapda SDO Khawaja Niaz Ahmed will monitor NA-185 Bahawalpur-III and PP-271 and 272. Khairpur Tamewali Civil Judge, Class III, Jam Imtiaz Mehmood and the Hasilpur TMO will monitor the constituencies NA-186 and PP-273 -274. Civil Judge, 1st Class, Umar Fraooq Awan and Yazman TMO will monitor NA-187 and PP- 275 and 276.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 3rd, 2013.
